Fish-landing net



April 13,1926. 1,580,543

R. .L sMlTH FI SH LANDING NET Filed nec. 2a. 1925 Patented pr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

:aoY J. SMITH, or WARREN'roN, OREGON.

, FISH-LANDING NET.

Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial No. 78,040.

ing Net, of which the following is a specifi-r cation.

This invention has reference to fish landing nets, and has moreparticular reference to that type of net that is adapted to he employedby fishermen in order that the fish 5 may be caught in the net prior tobringing the same entirely out ofthe water, which is a` necessaryexpedient in the catching of weak mouthed fish.

The primary object of the invention is to substantially improve upon thetype of landing net now employed by fishermen. In the type of net nowbeing universally used, it is necessary tl at the same be placed underthe surface of the water primarily at a point remote from the fish uponthe` end of the line, after which the fisherman must, with caution, movethe net toward the fish and there beneath, and then while the fishv isupon the line, quickly move the' net upwardly to the proper catching ofthe fish. In the use of a net of this character it frequently happensthat unskilled fishermen will strike the fish before engaging the samewithin the net, which will knock the fish from the line and permit ofhis escape.

In attaining my improvement my net is so constructed that the same maybe engaged over the line that is out of the water, and then slowly moveddownwardly simultaneously with the upward movement of the line, and thenas the fish is directly beneath the net, the same maybe quickly slippedover and the fish caught within the net without requiring great skill,means being provided for permitting of the ready disengagement of thehook from vthe fishs mouth, and also from within the net, wherein thefish isy caught, thus making it unneeessary for the fisherman to placeone or both of his hands within the net for disenfy gagement of the hookfrom the fishs mouth, which is another disadvantage in the use of thenets now upon the market.

From the foregoing and other objects in view, as the nature lof theinvention will be better understood, the same comprises the novel form,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described,

shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed. In the drawing whereinlike reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views: Q Figure l is a. bottom plan view of a net constructed`in accordance with my invention, said net being maintainedin thisposition while the same is being moved into engagement with the line andvdownwardly thereon toward the fish.

Figure 2 `is a side elevationV of the net when the same is used, and lFigure 3 is a side .elevation of the net, in

`fish-landed condition.

Now havingy particular reference to the yso drawing, my novel netconstitutes the pro- Y vision ofv a suitable handle `5,'upon onel end ofwhich is arranged in a horizontal manner a Wire frame 6, preferably ofthe oval formation Vas shown in Figure l, the front end of the framebeing open as shown in Figure 1, said frame carrying the usual net T.

In carrying out my invention, the front side of the net7 is openedthroughout its entire length, lwhile the bottom thereof is also open fora purpose hereinafter described. Y n The edges of the net lat the openside thereof, and open bottom are secured to the spaced parallel legs 88 of a single piece of wire that is bent .upon itself to provide amember of the shape shown in Figure 1. The joining portion ofthe legs atthe rear end thereof is bent rearwardly to provide an eyelet 9, aroundwhich are attached the edges of the bottom Iopening in said net. Theupper ends of said legs are pivotally secured withinoeyes 10-10 providedupon the forward side of the frame 6 at the opening in said forwardside.

The object of this wire member is to provide a line receiving slot atthe front side of the net 7, while the bent providing the eyelet 9constitutes a means at the lower end of the slot whereby the hookwithin'the fishs mouth, that is caught within the net as shownin Figure3, may be removed, by jerking upon the line which is designated A.k inthe figures. j

In the use of my improved net, the open side thereof'is reversed atAwhich position, the wire member including said legs 8 8 will falldownwardly upon the net carrying frame 5, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.Obviously when a fish is caught upon the line the same may be passedinto the net through the medium of the slot provided at its forwardside. rIhe net is then slowly moved downwardly until it reaches theposition with respect tothe fish, as shown in Figure 2, after which thenet is scooped under the fish and then quickly raised, therebyeffectively catching the fish without touching the same until it hasbeen engaged in the net, resulting in an accurate landing, and thiswithout requiring any great skill upon the part of the fisherman. Byerking upon the line A, the hook will be readily withdrawn from the weakmouth fish, and then the s me will drop through the eyelet 9 in thelower portion of the frame.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a novel and eflicient form offish landing net that is well adapted for all the purposes designated,even though I have herein shown an'd described the preferred embodimentof the invention with which I am at this time familiar', it isnevertheless to be understood that modifications may be had withoutvdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. y

-Iaving thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. A fish landing net of the characterdescribed, ahanldle, a Aframe upon one end of the handle, a net securedto the frame, the front side thereof being opened for producing a slottherein, and a reinforcing frame .for said slot.

2. In a fish landing net of the character described, a handle member, anet upon one end of the handle member, the same being provided with arelatively vertical opening when extended for permitting a fish line topass into the net when collapsed and reinforcing means for said opening.

3. In a fish landing net of the character described, 'a handle member, aframe upon one end of the handle member, a net associated with theframe, said net being provided with a relatively vertical openingthroughout its length and registering with an opening in said carryingframe in order that a fish line may pass into the net when the same iscollapsed, and a reinforcing member for said opening in order that theline will be properly guided into the net when so collapsed.

1l. In a fish landing net of the character described, a handle member, aframe upon one end of the handle member, a net associated with theframe, said net being provided with a relatively vertical openingthroughout its length and registering with an opening in said carryingframe in order that a fish line may pass into the net when the same iscollapsed, and a reinforcing member for said opening in order that theline will be properly guided 'into the net when so collapsed, saidopening and reinforcing member being so constructed at certain endsthereof as tov permit of the disengagement of the hook upon the linefrom the net after a fish .has been caught therein.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ROY J. SMITH.

